News for Delaware County Master Gardeners

Vol. 10 No. 1 January, 2005

From the Coordinator. . .

We have had a very busy year in 2004, and I appreciate all of the support you have given to me and to the project chairs. The Teaching Gardens are moving forward and are getting a lot of attention from the community. We hope to have signage for the gardens and park trails early in 2005.

Master Urban Gardeners joined our organization in 2004, and brought new projects and new ideas with them. This is a very talented group that has donated many volunteer hours to the gardening community. These new projects are outlined in the Volunteer Opportunity descriptions.

We have enjoyed a wonderful newsletter published ten times a year by Martha Van Artsdalen and the Newsletter committee. Barbara Smith from the class of 2003 has offered to chair this committee and we look forward to working with her as our new editor. Thanks to both of them and to all who contribute to the newsletter. The newsletter will be offered to members online in 2005. If you choose this option you will download it from the Cooperative Extension website. (http://delaware.extension.psu.edu/MG) Personal information will be edited by Cynthia Sabatini before it is sent to our website designer. The website edition will contain the first name, but only the initial of the last name, and all telephone numbers and e-mail addresses will be deleted. Your 2005 Master Gardener Membership List will give you that information.

The new membership list will be out as soon as possible after the January meeting. Please be sure to send me your committee selections and personal information that you want included in the list if you are unable to attend this meeting. We have been reminded that this list is only for your use, and is not to be shared with anyone who is not a Delaware County Master Gardener. (One of the counties in the Southeast region had a problem with the confidentiality of the membership list, and the college was not pleased!)

At the December 16th meeting of the Southeast and Capital Region Coordinators and Educators we were informed that Toni Bilik, state MG coordinator has retired, and that they do hope to replace her. This was much more positive news than we received at the last meeting. I'll keep you informed about the position. We also planned the 2005 Training Schedule. Delaware County will be training a new MG class on Tuesdays from 2-5 p.m. Orientation is scheduled for August 23rd. We will begin recruiting in May

Each month we have had more members record volunteer hours on line. If you have had a problem, please contact me or Jackie Asbury. We'll check it out and send you the user name and password that works.

The address for recording hours online is http://go.cas.psu.edu/mg.

I hope to see you at the January meeting. This is a covered dish dinner and will be held at Smedley Park on January 18th beginning at 6:30.

Linda Barry

Left: Participants in the August 2004, "Make a Garden Trough" workshop learn to make a trough from hyper-tufa, perfect for dwarf plants.

From the President of Master Gardeners

In the past few years the Master Gardeners of Delaware County have expanded their skills and outreach into the community through the Veranda, Bird and Butterfly, Shade and Hillside Gardens. Each of these Gardens, with its own theme, is there to teach the community some uses of plant material and conservation. The plant material may change from time to time, but the purpose is always the same- to teach. A visitor once remarked, "I didn't know this was here!" followed by many questions about the plants.

The Second Saturday programs have utilized the skills of many of our members in a variety of topics and have proven to be very popular, with repeat visits by many of the attendees.

A gardening column has begun giving us timely hints on what to do in the garden.

The Home Gardener School, attracting talented and well-known speakers, has expanded to a larger venue, which is also overflowing.

There are many volunteer opportunities, which have been ably served by our members. Our recognition and reputation has increased greatly over the years. Kudos to all Master Gardeners, who have contributed so much talent and enthusiasm to these many efforts.

Thanks, too, to the office staff, which has to field questions and take reservations for our programs.

There is always room for improvement. One day we may try to root out the invasive plants that surround the Penn State Extension Office. I also envision a wild flower garden next to the creek and visible from the lawn where we hold our picnics.

Let's all give our support to the new President and Vice-President who will bring new plans and ideas to the Master Gardeners. I am proud to be one of you.

Delilah Foldes

Return to the top.

Left: Arlene Pugh creates a masterpiece while teaching a flower arranging workshop at the Chester Senior Center.

Connections Between Earthworms and Plant Health

November 2003's HortIdeas reported on a U.S. patent covering the use of worm castings to reduce insect damage to plants. In June of 2004 Ohio State University research showed that small amounts of worm castings added to the growing medium can suppress plant diseases, apparently due mainly to competition of microorganisms in the castings with plant pathogens. Now there is evidence that the presence of worms or worm castings can alter the defensive chemistry of plants, resulting in potentially improved plant health in the presence of (non-overwhelming) populations of pathogens.

German researchers found that the concentrations of certain plant-defensive chemicals went up when there were worms in the growing medium. Worms also resulted in higher nitrogen concentrations in the plant shoots, and reproduction of aphids allowed to feed on the plants went down. The researchers speculate that the altered chemical composition of the plant sap with earthworms affected the aphids adversely: "earthworms may not only increase plant nutrient contents, but also alter the defense mechanisms of plants. So far the majority of studies on plant-defensive chemistry have concentrated on the above-ground world. It is time to broaden this perspective and include the effects of belowground biota…."

AAS Winners

These All-America Selections winners deserve a close look:

'Magellan Coral' zinnia. Radiant color and fully doubly, five- to six-inch flowers on more compact stalks (full height is 15 inches) recommend this new cultivar. Since the new growth covers spent blooms, no deadheading is necessary. Blooms throughout the summer.

'Arizona Sun' Gaillardia. The uniform habit eliminates the ranginess that's common to many gaillardias. Count on flowers all summer long. Great for attracting butterflies and for cutting.

'First Kiss Blueberry' vinca. This is the first blue-flowered vinca (Catharanthus rosea). Large two-inch blooms sport a darker-than-typical eye. Heat and drought tolerant. Size at maturity is about 11inches tall and 16 inches wide.

'Sugary' tomato. This dark pink variety is said to have a sugar content of 9.5 percent, higher than most other tomatoes. These little guys look like a cross between cherry and grape tomato types-oval with a point on the blossom end. Semi-indeterminate, vigorous growth.

'Fairy Tale' eggplant. Here's an eggplant that's not only petite but it's been bred to have a long harvest period. You can pick the fruit when it's only an ounce or two or wait till it's twice the weight, and you get the same sweet (non-bitter) flavor and few seeds. Harvest can begin just 49 to 51 days from transplanting. The plant grows to only 2-1/2 feet high and wide, making it ideal for container gardening.

'Bonbon' winter squash. More compact growth and an upright habit means you need a bit less room in the garden; eventual spread is about eight feet. It also matures a week earlier than most other types (81 days). Texture of the fruit is said to be creamy. Weight of each squash: about four pounds.

Just what does it mean "All America Selections"? This seed-testing organization was founded in 1932 and is the "granddaddy" of them all.

The 2005 AAS winners were tested in trial grounds across North America and were found superior to comparable varieties. They are featured in the seed catalogs now arriving in the mail; many will be available as plants in local nurseries this spring.

Gardening for Dummies is your one-stop guide to a beautiful garden. This all-in-one reference is actually 7 books in one. It will provide you with all the information you'll need to transform an ordinary backyard into a glorious garden. $29.95

Return to the top.

Dynamic Gardening
     Dan Hickey is a former editor of National Gardening

In order to maximize the exercise benefits from gardening, focus on the major muscle groups, advises Jeff Restuccio, author of Fitness the Dynamic Gardening Way (Balance of Nature Publishing, Cordova, TN, 1992; $12.95). Restuccio recommends simple techniques such as bending your knees while raking or placing a crate that requires you to step up and down as you move from one flower bed to the next.

"If you have ever raked, hoed, or weeded a garden bed, you already know that gardening is a good workout," Restuccio says. "But if you think about it in terms of human physiology, no one has ever shown us how to garden."

Turn garden work into garden exercise, he advises. The Tennessee-based author and martial arts expert recommends exaggerating movements to achieve maximum range of motion and changing gardening stances in order to use different muscles. For example, when raking put your left foot forward, and use your left hand on the lower handle. Then switch the right foot forward, and switch your hand positions as well.

Remember, sore muscles aren't proof that you've exercised. More often, stiffness and pain indicate inadequate or improper stretching and warm-up, or overuse of muscles. After gardening you should feel tired, not achy. Take time to stretch, and avoid marathon sessions turning compost, raking leaves, or shoveling snow. Above all, don't forget why you garden. Simply be aware of the duration and intensity of your gardening so that you accrue the maximum health benefits.

Maximizing the Health Benefits of Gardening

Use a push mower instead of a rider. This a great way to get exercise once or twice a week. If your lawn is too big to cut without a rider, set aside a portion of your lawn for a push mower.

Plan a daily gardening activity. Of course, people living in colder climates need to be creative. If you use a snow thrower, shovel a portion of your driveway. When buying seeds or other easily carried items at a garden center, park your car a mile away and walk.

Vary your activities. Don't let one activity consume you, or you'll pay for it later. Break up strenuous gardening chores with more moderate and enjoyable activities. For example, break up a session of post-hole digging with some quiet weeding or transplanting.

Count the minutes. Make sure the total daily time of garden activities adds up to 30 minutes. Each activity should last at least 8 minutes. If you've been inactive, build up to the 30-minute total gradually.

Dig holes. Digging and shoveling are big calorie burners (250 to 350 calories per half-hour). Each depends on the muscles of the legs and stomach, arms and shoulders, and neck and back.

Make a compost pile. If you've been thinking about starting a compost pile, now there's another good reason to do it. Turning compost burns 250 to 300 calories per half-hour.

Listen to your muscles. Pay attention to the muscles that are working for you, as well as to your exertion levels. If you can increase your range of motion or safely add weight or resistance to a garden activity, give it a try. But whatever you do, don't use your back.

Calories Burned During Common Gardening Activities

The following chart gives the calories burned during 30 minutes of the activity for a 180-pound person. Generally, a person who weighs more will burn more calories than the amount shown here. Likewise, a person weighing less burns fewer calories.

Typical calories burned in 30 minutes of:

HELP WANTED - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

It's time to prepare the bulk mailing for the Home Gardener's School. I need 6 to 8 people who need hours for 2005 - (I think that is all of us!) to meet on Thursday, January 27th at 1:30 pm.
We will work in the Environmental Center. Please call me if you would like to participate.
Barbara Meahl

Make Resolutions for the Landscape Repeating the same resolutions every year can be boring. For 2005, even if old resolutions about health were not successful, try some resolutions related to the landscape. They, too, will provide valuable benefits, and they typically are more fun and easier to achieve. The ultimate goal of most gardeners is to have an attractive landscape that involves as little work as possible. After all, a garden should be a joy not a job, a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Let this philosophy be the basis for your resolutions. Here are some suggestions:

1. Resolve to plan, to decide what effects you want to create in different parts of the landscape, then to carefully choose low-maintenance plants that will achieve that effect.
2. Resolve to use native and well-adapted plants when possible, for they will require less care and have fewer insect or disease problems.
3. Resolve to use plant varieties that have proved to be successful in this area but also to try something novel that will add interest and diversity.
4. Resolve to apply mulch properly and not to overdo it. A 3 inch layer is sufficient, and it should not touch the plant trunk or large stems.
5. Resolve to water plants on the basis of need , not on a regular schedule. Grass will let you know when it needs water. If it is dry, I'll water; if moist, I'll wait. Watering deeply and infrequently encourages deep, efficient root systems.
6. Resolve to put out more birdbaths and feeders because birds help control insects and add beauty to the yard. I also will have at least one shrub that produces berries to attract birds.
7. Resolve to share your love of gardening with children, whether they are your relatives or someone else's. Gardening is fun and educational for the kids, and their assistance is a back and knee-saver for us.
8. Resolve to plant more perennials. They require less care than annuals and are great to share with friends, neighbors and fellow master gardeners.

And most of all resolve to stop and smell the roses. A sitting area under a large tree is an ideal spot to relax and enjoy nature. And a walk through the garden just to admire the flowers and vegetables, instead of looking for problems, is beneficial to the mind and the spirit.
Joe Daniels

Return to the top.

And finally. . .

As the new editor of Master Gardener, I find myself with big shoes to fill. Martha has done a terrific job for the past 6 years preparing an informative and interesting newsletter for us. (I even caught my husband reading the newsletters and implementing some of the suggested tasks.)

I am a 2003 MG and may not have met some of you. Please take a moment to introduce yourself at the next MG Meeting, If you have any interesting tidbits you'd like to share with us, please drop me a line or send an email. Beginning this year, we will be offering you the opportunity to receive your newsletter via email delivery or US Mail. A form was sent to you in December requesting your choice and if it isn't caught up in the holiday mail, take a moment to return it to us with your instructions.

I am already looking forward to the seed catalogs that will most certainly put a dent in my mailbox -

Barbara Smith

Delaware County Master Gardeners Home
Gardening Tips  |   Master Gardener Activities
Becoming a Master Gardener
Useful Links